Introduction
It is disturbing that Nigeria imports all the matches being used in the country at present, when all the facilities required for smooth production are locally available. Nigerian investors can exploit the opportunity of investing on this project.
The social and economic compatibility of any project with its environs needs to be seriously considered when making long term investment such as this project.
With the federal government ban on importation of some basic items in Nigeria it becomes wise to tap the various opportunities that will be created out of that policy. With the power reforms of President Jonathan recently launched and called “Electricity Road Map” there is hope that there will be regular power supply in the country by the year 2010. If the power problem is solved in the country, then the overhead cost on manufacturing will drastically reduce.
The writer has carried out extensive feasibility studies on this project and found out that Nigerians do not need the mass importation of safety matches. In this write up, he discusses on how to go about setting up a formidable, functional matches production in the country. The writer will guide prospective investors in setting up this project from feasibility studies, site planning, procurement and installation of machines, development of marketing strategies and recruitment of experienced manpower to manage the project for profit. Please call 08034494437, 08023664368, 01-4721550, 01-7349363 for detail discussion.

The Market For Matches
The demand for matches is inelastic. Every home needs matches.
The need for matches cuts across every restaurant, industries, churches to mention but few. Welding shops also need matches. It is a product that must be needed in every kitchen of every Nigerian both rich and poor.
The demand for matches increases everyday since both rural and urban dwellers need matches for both domestic and industrial purposes.
It has a very huge turnover and every investor into the project will always be sure of patronage.
Production Plant
Matches production project is a small project that can easily be set up and can be embarked upon at a small, medium or large scale.
Government should have included this project into the list of import-banned products since Nigeria can easily produce the product.
Nigerians can go into wax match project instead of timber matches and timber boxes product.
However investors can start with any of these product ranges.
To set up the project (particularly the wax matches) the following machines will be required.
(i) Paper slitting rewinder machine
(ii) Wire drawing machine
(iii) Bobbins (MS spools)
(iv) Frame filling machine
(v) Frame with laths
(vi) Trolleys
(vii) Head composition grinding machine
(viii) Homogenizer
(ix) Drier
(x) Master card board slitting machine
(xi) 7ups group cutting machine
(xii) Friction composition ball mill
(xiii) Card board size painting machine
(xiv) Outer box skillets cutting machine
(xv) Card board outer box making machine
(xvi) Inner box skillets cutting machine
(xvii) Card board inner box making machine
(xviii) Glue melting bath
The plant has the capacity of producing 1,500 bundles per shift (10,000 gross boxes).
It can work on double shift per day, which would be sufficient for average population of ten million.
The machines will be obtained from India or China. Details will be given to prospective investors.
Raw Materials
All the raw materials required for the project are locally available.
The wood material and all the required chemical compounds required can be procured from some identified dealers in Nigeria.
The major raw materials are splint paper, paraffin wax (Grade II), cardboard boxes complete, chemicals, packaging materials etc.
Employment Opportunities
This project is a good employment generation project. The project would be able to employ about 300 persons per shift and requires a power of 100KWH.
Production Processes
The production processes making the outer board paper, followed by making the inner board and the splint paper rolls. Details will be given to prospective investors since the space will not be enough for full demonstration.
Moreover the production processes involved depends on whether the investor wants to go into wax matches or the conventional timber matches/timber boxes.
Location of The Proposed Project
This project can be located in any part of Nigeria and the writer will assist the prospective investor to see that required technical information is obtained for successful investment.
The technical partner to be recommended to the promoters will offer complete turnkey project plan, supply the plant and machinery erect and commission the plant.